0p0 Chapter 179 Introducing the target
Chapter 179 Introducing the target
Time flies like an arrow, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye. Throughout these long years, Xiaodoukou has single-handedly and painstakingly raised the children. The once innocent and vibrant girl has now weathered many storms.
At this moment, only her adorable twin sisters were by her side. Her son, for various reasons, had been left with the old lord and lady. Whenever the night was quiet, Xiaodoukou would recall those beautiful days. Back then, she was like a blooming flower, delicate and beautiful, exuding a captivating fragrance. She not only possessed a clever and kind heart, but also natural beauty that was impossible to conceal; her skin was as white as snow, and her face was as beautiful as a figure in a painting.
However, fate always seems to play cruel jokes on people, especially fond of tormenting kind and fragile souls. Time flies by like a white horse galloping past a crack in the wall, and the heavy burden of life mercilessly weighs down on the tender shoulders of the young girl in her prime.
To ensure her family's survival, she would struggle to get out of her warm bed before dawn every day, quickly wash up, and rush out to begin a long and arduous day of running around. Whether it was the scorching heat of summer or the biting cold of winter, she consistently moved through every corner of the business world without ever uttering a single complaint.
Days passed quietly in this cyclical pattern, spring turning to autumn, winter to summer, and the relentless sculptor of time left indelible marks on Xiaodoukou's body. Years of wind and sun slowly eroded her once delicate, flower-like face. Her smooth, fair skin gradually lost its luster, becoming increasingly rough; deep and shallow wrinkles, like cunning little snakes, silently crept onto her forehead and the corners of her eyes, each line telling a story of life's hardships and trials.
At the same time, her once enviable, jet-black, lustrous, and silky hair had been gradually tinged with a few striking silver strands by time. These silver strands, appearing and disappearing among her black hair, were like stars dotting the night sky, making her seem as if she had aged decades in an instant.
On this sunny day, a gentle breeze was blowing. Little Cardamom, as usual, arrived early at the bustling market, setting up her stall to sell her homegrown fresh fruits and vegetables. Just as she was enthusiastically hawking her wares to passersby, a slight commotion suddenly arose from the crowd. Everyone turned to look, and saw a large caravan slowly approaching in the distance. The caravan was magnificent, its flags fluttering, attracting the attention of many.
Leading the caravan was a distinguished man, tall and imposing, with striking features and an air of confidence and composure. When his gaze casually swept over Xiao Doukou's stall, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He quickened his pace slightly, walking directly towards Xiao Doukou's stall. Upon reaching her, he stopped, bent slightly, and softly asked, "Excuse me, ma'am, are you Xiao Doukou?"
Hearing someone call her name, Xiaodoukou was puzzled and looked up to examine the person before her. After a moment, she nodded slightly and replied, "It is indeed I. May I ask how you know my name?"
The man smiled slightly, revealing a row of clean, white teeth, and said slowly, "Sister, don't you remember me? I am Ah Niu, who was poor and destitute and wandering around back then! I am so grateful for your kindness. You not only generously gave me food to eat, but also encouraged me with warm words to bravely venture out into the world. I have always remembered this kindness and have never forgotten it for a moment."
Xiao Doukou closed her eyes tightly, trying hard to search the depths of her memory for that blurry figure. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her, and she opened her eyes wide. "Ah! I remember now!" It turned out that the young man was none other than A Niu, whom she had met once many years ago.
Ah Niu was no longer the naive boy he once was. Years had honed his skills, making him mature, steady, and well-connected. Seeing Xiao Dou Kou's current state, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness: the once lively and spirited girl was now overwhelmed by the burdens of life. He secretly resolved to help Xiao Dou Kou change her circumstances.
Without hesitation, Ah Niu, leveraging his accumulated connections and resources, began actively advising Xiao Dou Kou. He first helped Xiao Dou Kou expand her business, increasing the shop's size and introducing a wider variety of goods. Then, he hired several diligent and reliable employees to help manage the business.
As time went by, Xiaodoukou's life gradually improved. She no longer had to get up early and work late every day, doing everything herself, and could spend more time taking care of herself. Unconsciously, the deep and shallow wrinkles on her face seemed to have smoothed out a bit, and her originally gray hair even showed a faint luster.
However, an even greater surprise awaited Xiaodoukou. Her son, far away with the old lord, was frantic with worry upon learning of his mother's hardships over the years and rushed back day and night. When Xiaodoukou opened the door and saw her travel-worn son standing before her, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. At that moment, all her suffering transformed into tears of happiness, and the family embraced tightly, unwilling to part for a long time.
As Su Yuning and Ye Beichen embarked on their journey back to the northern desert, sunlight bathed them, illuminating their intertwined figures. Along the way, they chatted and laughed, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.
Finally, they arrived at the small town in the northern desert, a place filled with a familiar and welcoming atmosphere. As the two walked slowly forward, a small and exquisite shop came into view—it was Xiaodoukou's shop. Su Yuning's heart stirred, and she gently gestured to Ye Beichen with her eyes to wait at the door, while she went into the shop with some carefully prepared gifts.
Stepping into the shop, Su Yuning moved slowly, cautiously scanning every corner. Her bright, eager eyes swept across everything around her like lightning. Her heart was filled with anticipation and anxiety, desperately hoping to find that familiar, haunting figure as soon as possible.
However, despite her focused and meticulous examination of her surroundings, scrutinizing every corner and detail, things didn't go as planned—the figure that had been lingering in her mind, the one she longed for, did not appear in her sight as she had hoped. This outcome plunged Su Yuning, who had been filled with anticipation and hope, into a deep abyss of doubt and disappointment.
Just as she was filled with doubt, her brows furrowed, pondering what went wrong and what caused the figure to not appear, a clear, melodious, and pleasant voice, like the song of a nightingale, suddenly and unexpectedly came from behind her.
"Greetings, Madam Young Lord! Welcome to our shop!"
In that instant, Su Yuning felt a sudden tremor run through her body, as if she had been struck by an invisible bolt of lightning. She had no time to think further; her mind went blank, and her body reacted instinctively. She quickly turned around, her heart pounding with tension and curiosity, eager to find out who had greeted her at such a moment.
When she finally saw who it was, she froze. There stood Xiaodoukou, a faint smile playing on her lips, waving gently at her. However, Xiaodoukou looked very different from before: her face was noticeably haggard, and fine wrinkles even appeared at the corners of her eyes; her once round and smooth cheeks had lost their luster, as if relentlessly eroded by time, leaving many indelible marks.
Su Yuning could hardly believe her eyes. She stared wide-eyed at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in front of her, her mouth agape, unable to close for a long time. Her throat felt as if something was blocking it, and she couldn't utter a single word.
After a long while, Su Yuning finally came to her senses and softly asked, "Sister, how have you been these past few days?" Xiao Doukou's lips curled into a bitter smile as she replied, "Madam, thank you for your concern. Life is a little better than before." Hearing this, Su Yuning felt a surge of indescribable guilt. Back then, she hadn't taken better care of Xiao Doukou; seeing her like this now, how could she not feel remorse?
Su Yuning moved gracefully to Xiaodoukou's side, her slender, soft hands gently taking Xiaodoukou's slightly rough hands in hers. Su Yuning's beautiful eyes were filled with deep affection, as gentle and captivating as the warm spring sunshine.
She parted her lips slightly and said softly, "Sister, I really haven't taken good care of you before. But from now on, if you encounter any difficult problems or difficulties in the future, please don't be shy about coming to me! Just come and find me!"
Xiao Doukou gazed quietly at the gentle woman before her, feeling the warmth emanating from Su Yuning's palm, and her heart stirred with emotion. Gradually, her eyes began to redden, and tears welled up, as if they might fall at any moment.
Just then, a series of steady, powerful footsteps approached and reached everyone's ears. Immediately afterward, a tall, imposing man strode into the shop. This man was none other than Ye Beichen, whose usually cold and aloof face showed a hint of surprise upon seeing Xiao Doukou.
After Ye Beichen approached, Su Yuning briefly recounted the whole story to him. Upon listening, Ye Beichen frowned slightly and fell into a brief moment of contemplation. After a short while, he raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Xiaodoukou, and said slowly, “Currently, our territory is planning to vigorously develop its agricultural industry, and as far as I know, Miss Xiaodoukou has considerable experience in this area. Would you be willing to return to the territory with us and serve as its manager? This way, you can both utilize your talents and abilities and contribute to the prosperity of the territory.”
Upon hearing this, Xiaodoukou's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively turned to look at her family and friends beside her, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. After all, although life here was tough, she had close friends and blood relatives by her side. However, just as she was struggling with this dilemma, her son, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly stepped forward and said firmly, "Mother, let's go! Perhaps there will be more and better opportunities waiting for us over there."
Looking at her son's innocent face, full of expectation and hope, Xiaodoukou felt both moved and gratified. After careful consideration, she finally nodded firmly in agreement.
After arriving in the northern desert, Xiaodoukou, with her years of experience in farming and business, managed the farm affairs very well. Her family also lived a better life, and the children received a good education. Nourished by the affluent life, Xiaodoukou's face slowly regained its radiance. She often marveled at the wonder of fate, having once thought she could only live a life of hardship in the small town, never expecting such a great change, and now her family lived happily ever after.
Seeing the increasingly close relationship between Xiaodoukou and Ye Beichen, their daily laughter and harmonious interactions causing Su Yuning, who had been silently observing them, to feel a growing sense of unease. She began to worry that Ye Beichen might gradually distance himself from her due to his growing affection for Xiaodoukou, or even stop loving their shared child. This unease, like a seed, quietly took root and quickly spread within her heart.